JASPERS held its third Stakeholders meeting in Budapest, Hungary on 7-8 April 2011. The first such meeting took place in Krakow, Poland in May 2009 and the second in Sofia, Bulgaria in June 2010. The specific objective of this year's meeting was to identify measures to better assist countries/managing authorities/final beneficiaries in improving the quality of submissions as well as streamlining the application process. The event was attended by some 100  representatives from managing authorities and line ministries from the JASPERS-supported countries, and by representatives of JASPERS partners, including the Commission (DG REGIO), EIB, EBRD and KfW. 

In his introductory remarks to the first session on “JASPERS Strategy 2011-2013”, Rudolf Niessler (Director, DG REGIO) said: "In  the next two years, according to the latest forecast, 264 applications will be submitted. The quality of these applications will be crucial. On our side, we should consider taking important steps to increase the efficiency of processing of applications".

The second session, chaired by Agustin Auria (Head of JASPERS, EIB), included an analysis of interruption letters; of the guidelines for the preparation and review of applications; of the new Completion Note format; of the imprtance of progress bilateral and trilateral meetings; and of the key remaining horizontal issues. 

On 8 April, Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen (Vice President, EIB) chaired the morning session, continuing the discussion on the outstanding points of the second session and taking a closer look at the future of JASPERS after 2013. "JASPERS is unique at creating public knowledge and at establishing public and collective memory. Nothing, however, can replace the public administration and the role of the managing authorities. In the long run, nothing can be really effective without ownership", said Mr Kollatz-Ahnen.  

Mr Kollatz-Ahnen also chaired the third session, focussing on the future perspectives of JASPERS and including an overview of the timetable and process for the preparation of new Regulations and a debate on the Member States' views on the future demand for JASPERS.   

The Kopernik Science Centre project, a cultural institution located in the very heart of Warsaw, on the bank of the Vistula River, was  started  in 2006 at the joint initiative of the City of Warsaw, the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Polish Ministry of National Education . The mission of this Centre is to promote  learning and education, as well as to inspire  dialogue around science, culture and education.

The project is worth 431.6 M PLN (approx. 95.2 M EUR) and an application for EU co-financing of 207 M PLN (approx 45.7 M EUR) has been prepared with the support of JASPERS. The Kopernik Science Centre in Warsaw was opened to the public on November 5^th 2010. 

The Centre organises interactive exhibitions, workshops and events dedicated to children, young people and adults aimed at helping understand the wide context and essence of phenomena, rather than tell the story of scientific progress, as in traditional museums of technology.  

On the 18th - 19th May 2010, the Polish Ministry for Regional Development, in cooperation with JASPERS and the European Commission (DG REGIO) held a seminar to support the Regional Authorities in the development of broadband network projects in Poland. The seminar gathered officials from the European Investment Bank, DG REGIO, DG Competition and DG Information Society as well as representatives from national organizations who have successfully managed the implementation of broadband projects. For more information (in Polish only) and in order to access the available presentations (mostly in English):

http://www.mrr.gov.pl/aktualnosci/fundusze_europejskie_2007_2013/Strony/Warsztaty_siec_szerokopasmowa_20052010.aspx